A Scots cyclist has told how she feels lucky to be alive after feeling her head ‘bounce’ off the road three times during a horror hit and run collision. Audrey Power is appealing for the driver of the vehicle to come forward after she was knocked off her bike on the A6091 Melrose Bypass in the Scottish Borders on Sunday, December 4.
The 50-year-old, who has been cycling her whole life, was approaching the junction near the Borders General Hospital when a car ‘came flying out of nowhere’ and crashed into her. She managed to drag herself onto Melrose roundabout where she collapsed but was helped by hero passersby who called 999.
The business owner suffered a chipped bone in her arm, a large cut on her elbow, a head injury along with painful bruising and swelling on her left leg and hip. Despite her gory injuries, Audrey is trying to look at the positives but is very keen for the driver of the silver hatchback-style vehicle to hand themselves in.
The mum-of-three said: “It all happened so quickly. One second I’m cycling and the next a car has rammed into me at speed. The reality of it is just hitting me now and I’m very lucky to be alive. But that’s my road biking days over I think. It was horrendous but it could have been so much worse.
“You read about these things happening but never think it will happen to you. I believe the car drove straight onto the roundabout without any sign of slowing down at the junction and hit me with the driver side of their car. There is bound to be damage to the vehicle.
“I felt my bike go out from under and all I remember was my head bouncing on the ground two or three times. Once I landed on the ground fully, I started trying to move things and I got myself onto the grass at the roundabout and collapsed.
“It’s then that I realised what had happened. I was in total shock and couldn’t breath while crying.” She added: “My helmet took the first impact when I landed on the ground. It’s cracked and bashed but it did its job.
“Why wearing a helmet is not compulsory in this country, I have no idea. My bike will be a right off though because it’s carbon. This happened on the roundabout near the Borders General Hospital so I thankfully didn’t have far to go for treatment.
“I’m keen for the driver to apologise and hope they will come forward. I’d like to thank the witnesses who took time to stop and call an ambulance and the police. The ambulance team was great and the service I got at the BGH was very relaxed and efficient. I’m going to be pretty sore for a while but I’ll be ok.”
Police have issued an appeal for the driver or anyone who has information to come forward. Constable Mark Froud said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash and who has not already spoken to police to get in touch.
“I would also appeal to any drivers who were in this area at the time and who may have dash-cam footage to contact us or anyone aware of a car matching the description above which may have been recently damaged to get in touch.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 1588 of December 4, 2022.”
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